Container

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a container comprising a base frame, bottom side rails are provided respectively at both sides of the base frame and extends along a lengthwise direction of the container, and corner fittings are provided respectively at positions close to both ends of the each bottom side rail, the each bottom side rail is provided with a twist lock receiving groove which is formed by notching upward vertically from a bottom of the each bottom side rail, a bottom side of which is open, and a position of which corresponds to a position of a twist lock provided on a container carrier and disposed below the each bottom side rail. In the container of the present invention, it will be effective to prevent impact or press on the bottom side rails from twist locks provided on the container carrier, and the service life of the container is increased.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims priority to Chinese PatentApplication No. 200710187605.6 filed on Nov. 19, 2007, which applicationis expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container, and more particularly, toa structure of a bottom side rail thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

As shown in the FIG. 1, a conventional container comprises a base frame1′, bottom side rails 11′ are provided respectively at both sides of thebase frame 1′ and extends along a lengthwise direction of the container,and corner fittings 12′ for stacking and/or lifting the container areprovided respectively at positions close to both ends of the each bottomside rail 11′. Generally, when the container is transported by acontainer carrier, the corner fittings 12′ are engaged respectively withtwist locks (not shown) provided on the container carrier, thereby acontainer body of the container is fixed on the container carrier.

In order to meet demand of transporting different kinds of containers bythe same container carrier, twist locks are located at differentpositions on the container carrier which corresponds to different typecontainers. For example, twist locks are provided on the containercarrier at a 20 feet position corresponding to a 20 feet container, a 40feet position corresponding to a 40 feet container, or a 45 feetposition corresponding to a 45 feet container, respectively. In suchway, it is easier to fix the container on the container carrier.However, because the twist locks are protrusively provided on a carryingsurface of the container carrier, when a container is fixed on thecontainer carrier, some twist locks, which do not work for fixing thecontainer, would exert upward impact or press on the bottom side railsof the container, which would yield damage or deformation of the bottomside rails, the service life of the container is reduced and themaintenance cost is increased.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a container that damageor deformation of bottom side rails resulted from impact or press on thebottom side rails from twist locks provided on a container carrier canbe prevented when the container is fixed on a container carrier.

To achieve said the above object of the present invention, according toan aspect of the present invention, there is provided a containercomprising a base frame, bottom side rails are provided respectively atboth sides of the base frame and extends along a lengthwise direction ofthe container, and corner fittings for stacking and/or lifting thecontainer are provided respectively at positions close to both ends ofthe each bottom side rail of the bottom side rails, the each bottom siderail is provided with a twist lock receiving groove which is formed bynotching upward vertically from a bottom of the each bottom side rail, abottom side of which is open, and a position of which corresponds to aposition of a twist lock provided on a container carrier fortransporting the container and disposed below the each bottom side rail.

In the container invention, preferably, a length of a container body ofthe container is 40 feet, and the each twist lock receiving groove islocated at a position at a distance of 20 feet from one end of thecontainer.

In the container invention, preferably, a reinforcing rib plate isprovided along a peripheral wall of the each twist lock receivinggroove, a sealing plate for fixing the reinforcing rib plate isconnected between the reinforcing rib plate and a top section of theeach bottom side rail, and extends along a direction perpendicular to alengthwise direction of the each bottom side rail.

In the container invention, preferably, two widening portions are formedby extending the reinforcing rib plate respectively towards both sidesof the each bottom side rail, one widening portion of said two wideningportions of the reinforcing rib plate located inside the each bottomside rail is connected to a bottom plate located at a bottom of thecontainer, and a periphery surface of the other widening portion of saidtwo widening portions of the reinforcing rib plate located outside theeach bottom side rail is connected to a reinforcement plate.

In the container invention, preferably, a flat plate for reinforcing astrength of the each bottom side rail is fixed at a position close tothe open bottom side of the each twist lock receiving groove, the flatplate is provided with a through slot extending along a lengthwisedirection of the each bottom side rail, an opening of the through slotfaces downwards and a width of the through slot corresponds to a size ofsaid twist lock provided on the container carrier for transporting thecontainer and disposed below the each bottom side rail.

In the container invention, preferably, a width of the twist lockreceiving groove is greater than 80 mm, a length of the twist lockreceiving groove is less than or equal to 1500 mm, and a verticalhighness from a top of the twist lock receiving groove to a bottomsurface of a respective corner fitting of the corner fittings located ata bottom of the container is greater than 50 mm.

In the container invention, preferably, the length of the twist lockreceiving groove is 640 mm, and the vertical highness from the top ofthe twist lock receiving groove to the bottom surface of the respectivecorner fitting of the corner fittings located at the bottom of thecontainer is 86 mm.

Compared with the conventional container, the present invention has thefollowing advantages: (a) since the each bottom side rail is providedwith a twist lock receiving groove which is formed by notching upwardvertically from a bottom of the each bottom side rail, a bottom side ofwhich is open, and a position of which corresponds to a position of atwist lock provided on a container carrier for transporting thecontainer and disposed below the each bottom side rail, when thecontainer of the present invention is fixed on the container carrier,due to the appliance of the twist lock receiving grooves, it will beeffective to prevent impact or press on the bottom side rails from thetwist locks provided on the container carrier, and thus protect thebottom side rails, the service life of the container is increased andthe maintenance cost is reduced. (b) Since a reinforcing rib plate isprovided along a peripheral wall of the each twist lock receiving grooveand a sealing plate for fixing the reinforcing rib plate is connectedbetween the reinforcing rib plate and a top section of the each bottomside rail, and extends along a direction perpendicular to a lengthwisedirection of the each bottom side rail, the each bottom side rail hasadvantages of great strength and long service life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute aunit of this application document, illustrate embodiments of theinvention and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional container;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a structure of a container of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sketch map of a structure of a twist lock receiving grooveformed in a bottom side rail in the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sketch map of a perspective structure of a bottom side railin the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sketch map of a perspective structure of a bottom side railin another form in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 2, a container of the present invention comprises abase frame 1, bottom side rails 11 are provided respectively at bothsides of the base frame 1 and extends along a lengthwise direction ofthe container, and corner fittings 12 for stacking and/or lifting thecontainer are provided respectively at positions close to both ends ofthe each bottom side rail 11.

When the container is transported by a container carrier (not shown),the container is loaded on a carrying surface of the container carrier,and fixed on the container carrier by means of an engagement betweentwist locks (not shown) provided on the carrying surface of thecontainer carrier and the corner fittings 12 provided on the container,thereby the safe transportation of the container is achieved.

Further more, in the container of the present invention, the each bottomside rail 11 of the bottom side rails, which are respectively located inboth sides of the container, is provided with a twist lock receivinggroove 13. The twist lock receiving groove 13 is formed by notchingupward vertically from a bottom of the each bottom side rail 11, abottom side of the twist lock receiving groove 13 is open, and aposition of the twist lock receiving groove 13 corresponds to a positionof a twist lock (not shown) provided on a container carrier fortransporting the container and disposed below a body of the each bottomside rail 11.

When the container of the present invention is loaded on the containercarrier, due to the appliance of the twist lock receiving grooves 13, itwill be effective to prevent impact or press on the bottom side rails 11from the twist locks provided on the container carrier, and thus protectthe bottom side rails 11.

Preferably, the container of the present invention with the abovestructure has a container body of 40 feet in length, and the each twistlock receiving groove 13 is located at a position at a distance of 20feet from one end of the container. In such way, due to the arrangementof the twist lock receiving grooves 13, it will be effective to preventimpact and press on the bottom side rails 11 from the twist locksprovided at the above positions of the container carrier.

In the container invention, preferably, a width (along a directionperpendicular to the paper plane of FIG. 2) of the each twist lockreceiving groove 13 is greater than 80 mm, a length (indicated as acharacter, d, in FIG. 3) of the each twist lock receiving groove 13 isnot greater than 1500 mm, and a vertical highness (indicated as acharacter, h, in FIG. 4) from a top of the each twist lock receivinggroove 13 to a bottom surface of a respective corner fitting 12 locatedat a bottom of the container is greater than 50 mm. Preferably, thelength of the each twist lock receiving groove is 640 mm, and thevertical highness from the top of the twist lock receiving groove 13 tothe bottom surface of the respective corner fitting 12 located at thebottom of the container is 86 mm.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in order to maintain a wholestrength of the each bottom side rail 11 in which a twist lock receivinggrooves 13 has been formed, a reinforcing rib plate 131 is providedalong a peripheral wall of the each twist lock receiving groove 13, asealing plate 132 is connected between the reinforcing rib plate 131 anda top section 111 of the each bottom side rail 11, and the sealing plate132 extends along a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction ofthe each bottom side rail 11.

Preferably, a bottom plate 14 of the container is a corrugation plate,and a top section 14 of the each twist lock receiving groove 13 islocated on a position close to the bottom plate 14 of the container. Twowidening portions 1331 and 1332 are formed by extending the reinforcingrib plate 131 respectively towards both sides of the each bottom siderail 11, one widening portion 1331 of the reinforcing rib plate 131located inside the each bottom side rail 11 is connected to the bottomplate 14 located at a bottom of the container, and a periphery surfaceof the other widening portion 1332 of the reinforcing rib plate 131located outside the each bottom side rail 11 is connected to areinforcement plate 17. In such way, the bottom plate 14, thereinforcing rib plate 131, the sealing plate 132 and the each bottomside rail 11 could be welded together, thereby the strength of theportion of the bottom side rail 11 where the twist lock receiving groove13 is formed can be improved.

Obviously, a width of the reinforcing rib plate 131 may be less than orequal to a width of the each bottom side rail 11, and the bottom plate14 of the container may be made by a bottom plate using any othermaterials, which may also play the same role on reinforcing the strengthof the each bottom side rail 11.

As shown in the FIG. 6, in order to further reinforce a strength of theportion of the each bottom side rail 11 in vicinity of the each twistlock receiving groove 13, a flat plate 15 is fixed at a position closeto the bottom side, which is open, of the each twist lock receivinggroove 13, the flat plate 15 is provided with a through slot 16extending along a lengthwise direction of the each bottom side rail 11,an opening of the through slot 16 faces downwards and a width of thethrough slot 16 corresponds to a size of the respective twist lockprovided on the container carrier for transporting the container anddisposed below the body of the each bottom side rail 11. In such way,when the body of container is fixed on a container carrier, it iseffective to prevent the impact and press on the each bottom side rail11 from the twist lock(s) by means of the twist lock receiving groove(s)13.

1. A container comprising a base frame, in which bottom side rails areprovided respectively at both sides of the base frame and extends alonga lengthwise direction of the container, and corner fittings forstacking and/or lifting the container are provided respectively atpositions close to both ends of each bottom side rail of said bottomside rails, wherein said each bottom side rail is provided with a twistlock receiving groove which is formed by notching upward vertically froma bottom of said each bottom side rail, a bottom side of which is open,and a position of which corresponds to a position of a twist lockprovided on a container carrier for transporting the container anddisposed below said each bottom side rail.
 2. The container according toclaim 1, wherein a length of a container body of the container is 40feet, and said each twist lock receiving groove is located at a positionat a distance of 20 feet from one end of the container.
 3. The containeraccording to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing rib plate is provided alonga peripheral wall of said each twist lock receiving groove, a sealingplate for fixing the reinforcing rib plate is connected between thereinforcing rib plate and a top section of said each bottom side rail,and extends along a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction ofsaid each bottom side rail.
 4. The container according to claim 3,wherein two widening portions are formed by extending the reinforcingrib plate respectively towards both sides of said each bottom side rail,one widening portion of said two widening portions of the reinforcingrib plate located inside said each bottom side rail is connected to abottom plate located at a bottom of the container, and a peripherysurface of the other widening portion of said two widening portions ofthe reinforcing rib plate located outside said each bottom side rail isconnected to a reinforcement plate.
 5. The container according to claim1, wherein a flat plate for reinforcing a strength of said each bottomside rail is fixed at a position close to the open bottom side of saideach twist lock receiving groove, the flat plate is provided with athrough slot extending along a lengthwise direction of said each bottomside rail, an opening of the through slot faces downwards and a width ofthe through slot corresponds to a size of said twist lock provided onthe container carrier for transporting the container and disposed belowsaid each bottom side rail.
 6. The container according to claim 1,wherein a width of said twist lock receiving groove is greater than 80mm, a length of said twist lock receiving groove is less than or equalto 1500 mm, and a vertical highness from a top of said twist lockreceiving groove to a bottom surface of a respective corner fitting ofsaid corner fittings located at a bottom of the container is greaterthan 50 mm.
 7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the length ofsaid twist lock receiving groove is 640 mm, and the vertical highnessfrom the top of said twist lock receiving groove to the bottom surfaceof the respective corner fitting of said corner fittings located at thebottom of the container is 86 mm.
 8. The container according to claim 2,wherein a reinforcing rib plate is provided along a peripheral wall ofsaid each twist lock receiving groove, a sealing plate for fixing thereinforcing rib plate is connected between the reinforcing rib plate anda top section of said each bottom side rail, and extends along adirection perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of said each bottomside rail.
 9. The container according to claim 8, wherein two wideningportions are formed by extending the reinforcing rib plate respectivelytowards both sides of said each bottom side rail, one widening portionof said two widening portions of the reinforcing rib plate locatedinside said each bottom side rail is connected to a bottom plate locatedat a bottom of the container, and a periphery surface of the otherwidening portion of said two widening portions of the reinforcing ribplate located outside said each bottom side rail is connected to areinforcement plate.